Graham Knight

The above mentioned adminstrators will also be handling enquiries for Sound Controls' three associated companies as these are also now in administration: Media Tools Turnkey Soho Sound House Graham

Workers' fury after musical instrument stores are shut By Lachlan Mackinnon Daily Record STAFF at a chain of musical instrument shops were furious yesterday after being told they had lost their jobs. Workers at 10 shops run by Sound Control Holdings were sent home within hours of starting their shift. Staff had no idea the Dunfermline-based firm were in trouble and news that administrators had been called in came as a bombshell. One Scots worker with more than eight years' service said: "The bosses have not told anyone what is going on. I feel totally betrayed. When an employee asked one of the guys from the receivers what he should do, he was told, 'Go to the Job Centre'." Sound Control, who have an annual turnover of 50million, have 26 stores in the UK, including six in Scotland. They employ 338 staff - 85 of them north of the Border. A shop in Kirkcaldy and one in Glasgow's west end, along with eight in England, were closed yesterday, with 163 staff made redundant. Branches in Edinburgh, Dundee, Dunfermline and a second shop in Glasgow stayed open. John Reid, of administrators Deloitte, said Sound Control directors had tried to sell the business after competition from the internet hit sales. Sound Control's telesales and internet sales operations have also been wound up. The remaining 16 stores will continue to trade while a buyer is sought for the business. the above story is from today's Daily Record The administrators are Deloitte 1 City Square, Leeds, LS1 2AL. Anyone with a claim would be best to contact John Reid or Bill Dawson at 0113 243 9021 Graham

I was at the back and the sound was perfect for me. In fact I went up to the sound engineer afterwards and said "Nobody ever thanks the sound man but it was good". It was a very fine piano and I liked the way it was amplified with a proper pickup on the soundboard rather than using microphones. It all sounded fine to me.

Thanks for that - I thought it was an older Al that sung "Climb upon my knee" You certainly had a great time and I appreciate your report on Snooks - I must get to see him one of these days. And you heard "The Rake" too! - marvellous. Thanks for the insight into their performances. Re your near-death experience: I have never had any trouble there and I was in some truly low-life places long, long ago to see people like Esquerita or Eddie Bo etc. Mind you I am amused at the way the New Orleans paper always reports on the previous night of crime. Just for fun I am posting below the police report for Wenesday night in New Orleans - it seems just like any night in Union Street. I hope it brings back memories of your escapades in New Orleans. Again thanks for updating me on your visit. NEW ORLEANS POLICE REPORTS For Wednesday April 23, 2008 ARMED ROBBERIES Ben Weiner Drive near South Claiborne Avenue, Wednesday, 11 a.m. A man with a gun and wearing a black mask with either white trim or a white design robbed a vendor on the Tulane University campus of money. The robber ran north to Claiborne Avenue and got in a black pickup occupied by one or more other people. Tulane police couldn't be reached to find out whether the vendor was robbed inside his business. 6800 block of Tara Lane, Wednesday, 1:50 a.m. A 32-year-old woman was robbed near her house by a stranger with a gun. ARRESTS 3800 block of Constance Street, Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. NOPD major narcotics officers served a search warrant at a residence and found 126 grams of cocaine powder and two loaded AK-47 assault rifles. Four suspects were booked with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of guns while trafficking in narcotics. Police provided this list of the suspects: Johnathon Nions, 4057 Chipwood St., Marrero; Alton Ruth, 28, 1017 Antonine St.; Raphael Stevenson, 18, 2301 Loyola St., and Calvin Dominique, 57, 3815 Constance St. Stevenson wore a house arrest ankle bracelet from a prior conviction. 300 block of Burgundy Street, Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Gregory Trott White, 33, was arrested by 8th District officers Jason Hickman and Adam Garner and booked with burglary of a car parked in the French Quarter on Burgundy Street, a police official said. 1000 block of Decatur Street, Tuesday, 2 a.m. Marty Montgomery, 51, and Melissa Montgomery, 30, were arrested by 8th District night watch officers and booked with attempted burglary in an attempted break-in at a business on Decatur Street, a police official said. SHOOTINGS 2100 block of Second Street, April 13, 2:05 p.m. ARMED ROBBERIES 5000 block of St. Anthony Avenue, April 13, 11:30 p.m.; 8200 block of Birch Street, April 13, 11:09 p.m.; 600 block of St. Louis Street, April 13, 8:57 a.m.; Decatur and St. Philip streets, April 13, 5:56 a.m.; 6800 block of Colbert Street, April 13, 12:10 a.m. SIMPLE ROBBERIES Mazant and North Rampart streets, April 13, 12:39 p.m.; Foucher and Tchoupitoulas streets, April 13, 3:07 a.m. CARJACKING 6700 block of Gen. Diaz Street, April 13, 12:07 a.m. AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS 2600 block of Hamilton Street, April 13, 10 p.m.; 2200 block of Clio Street, April 13, 7:57 p.m.; 2200 block of North Roman Street, April 13, 5:18 a.m. ASSAULTS/BATTERY 7500 block of Jahncke Road, April 13, 10:16 p.m.; 2200 block of Clio Street, April 13, 8:47 p.m.; 1700 block of Tchoupitoulas Street, April 13, 7:34 p.m.; 4000 block of Ulloa Street, April 13, 8:09 a.m.; 4800 block of Hickerson Drive, April 13, 2:05 a.m.; Chartres and Madison streets, April 13, 2:05 a.m.; 900 block of Chartres Street, April 13, 1:51 a.m.; Canal and South Rampart streets, April 13, 1:26 a.m.; 3100 block of Cherry Street, April 13, 12:23 a.m. etc etc Graham

Wow - tell me about Snooks Eaglin I wish I had seen Snooks Eaglin - I did try to see him over 20 years ago at the Dew Drop Inn way out on La Salle (I was the only "honky" in there but they all realised I was there for the music). Snooks didn't show that night - the house band was great and apologised for Snooks non-appearnce - said he was "caught in a bottle-neck - again". What was Snooks like? I know his music but what was he like live? And Eugene Chadboure... he is really far-out - he is so far out he is in space. I've not seen him either. What was he like on a show - did he have his electric "rake" with him? Tell us more. This is very interesting. Graham

I agree with Alan Cynic. Jo Foster was good, played the piano well and added value to this very entertaining night at the Blue Lamp. Re Michael Marra's song about Dr John - detailed above - I believe Mr Rebbenack really did play a gig in Blairgowrie - does anyone have further details. Apparently it was a long time ago. Ask your Dad! Graham

Each Michael Marra show is a unique musical experience and his solo performance at Aberdeens Blue Lamp on Sunday was no exception. It was a master class in showing how a talented musician can entertain a packed audience while performing his own compositions. From the moment Michael bounded on stage and took his seat at a gleaming concert grand piano the audience knew they were in for a very special evening. He began by making announcement in Creole French and after pounding out a few New Orleans second-line riffs he began his show with the self-penned tale Dr John Is Playing Blairgowrie Tonight. If this title seems a little incongruous his wit, ingenuity and originality were further demonstrated by numbers that references to Bob Dylans Visit to Embra (Edinburgh), Grace Kellys Visit to Tannadice and the most far out of them all a composition about a famous Mexican painter: Frida Kahlos Visit to the Taybridge Bar. Marras acutely perceptive lyrics combine humour with at times a bitter, ironic tinge that reflects on the darker side of life. His Chain Up the Swings, He Gets The Beefheart, She Gets The Stones and The Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke were outstanding in this genre. The linking material he used between numbers was equally quick-witted and hugely entertaining. When a phone in the audience began to ring Michael said, I hope thats an incontinence alarm as thats the only kind we allow. This got a great laugh but Michael managed to top it by saying, I said that at a show last week and it was an incontinence alarm! A tale about the hanging of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was cleverly linked with a story about Mussolinis pianist son playing a gig in the fifties with jazz trumpeter and heroin addict, Chet Baker. According to Marra after a show Chet said to Mussolinis son, A bit of a drag about your old man! Michael Marra played piano, harmonica and guitar during the show and wrote 23 of the 25 numbers he performed. It was a magnificent performance a tour de force by a true original. Aberdeen Folk Club and Interesting Promotions are to be congratulated on organising an excellent show and I look forward to another evening with Michael Marra. http://www.marra.me.uk/

RobJMI would honestly be interested in what everyone thought about their music , given that most of you have been in the 'business' a while. I'm not in the band but would welcome constructive advice I could pass on, besides 'get a haircut' Toxic Distortion - if you are reading this at least one member at Aberdeen-Music thinks you guys deserve some praise - don't worry about the people who simply want to scoff at you. Let the critics' actions and achievements speak for themselves. You have achieved a great deal in a very short time. You write your own material. Your "hair" gets commented on everywhere from the press to radio interviews to this website - so it is a good talking point and it differentiates your group from all the others. In the last few weeks you have a won a national Radio Competition, been interviewed at length on Radio including playing your tracks and publising your Internet websites and promoting your CD sales points. Your sound samples on the Net have been listened to thousands of times. You have over 1000 "friends" on MySpace - so you already have quite a base to market to. Your CD is already available on Amazon, i-Tunes, e-Music and Rhapsody. You have had half a page of publicity in the Daily Mail, half a page in the Sunday Post and a positive big write up in The Press and Journal. You have over 100 professionally taken publicity pictures up and available on your website. Your image is a publicity agent's dream - ring Max Clifford - tell him you all deny knowing Peaches Geldof You guys are doing great - wait till you leave school and can legally play all the "hot joints". Keep annoying people! I think you are doing everything right so far. Well done.

I just heard Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant openly proclaim to "have a little schoolgirl and she's all mine", which led me to creating this thread. Thinking more along the lines of lyrics from the older songs that were initially innocuous, but now not so. Anybody got any more? "Meat Man" written by the late Mack Vickery recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis Oh, they call me the meat man Ya oughta see me eat, m'am Hear I'm the meat man, baby Ya oughta see me eat, m'am I got jaws like a bear trap Teeth like a razor Got a Maytag tongue With a sensitive taste A born in Texas A land of beef Never cared much for greens Ya' oughta heard I like meat I'm the meat man Woo, oughta see me eat, now Whoa, I'm the meat man, baby Ya oughta see me eat, now I been down to Macon, Georgia I ate the furs off a Georgia peach Plucked me a chicken in Memphis Mama, I still got feathers in my teeth Ate a pound of pork Huntsville, Alabama From a fine Alabama hog I went to Dallas, Texas Got no love, my baby left me Fed the bone to a Louisiana dog ...... "She Won't Turn Over For Me - Tommy Odim" - you'll have to look up the lyrics otherwise the Lenny Bruce fan moderator will be editing my posts again "Baby Let Me Bang Your Box" - Doug Clark and the Ho Nuts Baby let me bang your box, baby let me bang your box Baby let me play your eighty-eight I'm gonna bang 'til the whole house rocks When I was young they called me Piano Bill When I was young they called me Piano Bill 'Cause I played so fine I gave everybody a thrill (Oh) baby let me bang your box, baby let me bang your box Baby let me bang your box, (hey) baby let me bang your box Baby let me play your eighty-eight I'm gonna bang 'til the whole house rocks I've been bangin' since I was a kid of four I've been bangin' since I was a kid of four I've been bangin' along 'til I can't bang no more Oh-oh baby let me bang your box, baby let me bang your box Baby let me bang your box, hey baby let me bang your box Well baby let me play your eighty-eight I'm gonna bang 'til the whole house rocks I've been playin' piano, large and small But you've got the best piano of all I banged everyone in the eighbourhood Never banged one that sounds so good I've got a shuffle, a back beat, a boogie oogie too But when I play my jelly roll you won't know what to do ........... Sixty Minute Man - Billy Ward and the Dominoes Well listen here girls, I'm telling you now They call me lovin' Dan Oh, I'll rock 'em roll 'em all night long I'm a sixty minute man And if you don't believe I'm all I say, Come up and take up my hand When I let you go you'll cry Oh Yeah, he's a sixty minute Man! You give me 15 minutes of kissin', And then you holler "Oh please don't stop!" There'll be 15 minutes of teasin'And 15 minutes of squeezin' And 15 minutes of blowin' my top! And if you don't believe that I'm all I say, Come up and take up my hand When I let you go you'll cry Oh Yeah, he's a sixty minute Man! Well, you give me 15 minutes of kissin', Honey then you holler "Oh please don't stop!" There'll be 15 minutes of teasin' And 15 minutes of squeezing' And 15 minutes of blowin' my top! TOP! TOP! ....... Feat of the Mau Mau - written by Screamin Jay Hawkins after reading about the blood soaked uprising in Kenya in 1947! Cut the fat off the back of a baboon Boil it down to a pound in a spoon Scoop the eyes from a fly flying backwards Take the jaws and the paws off a 'coon Take your time, ain't life a good cookin' Cause the rest of this mess ain't good lookin' Take the fleas from the knees from a demon Tell your pals and gals and come screamin' To the feast with the beast of the Mau Maus "Strokin" - Clarence Carter ...... I stroke it to the east And I stroke it to the west And I stroke it to the woman that I love the best, huh I be strokin' Now when I start making love to my woman I don't stop until I know she's sas-ified And I can always tell when she gets sas-ified 'Cause when she gets sas-fied she start calling my name She'd say: 'Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter, Clarence Carter Clarence Carter, ooooh shit, Clarence Carter' The other night I was strokin' my woman And it got so good to her, you know what she told me Let me tell you what she told me, she said: 'Stroke it Clarence Carter, but don't stroke so fast If my stuff ain't tight enough, you can stick it up my...** I be strokin' Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I be strokin' ....... Chuck Berry's Ding A Ling was mentioned in earlier posts "Chuckles" copied it from Dave Bartholemew who recorded it in 1953. He ran a band in the 40's that Fats Domino joined and then they all became famous. He played trumpet for Fats and collaborated in writing many famous numbers including "Blueberry Hill" etc. The original Ding A Ling is more "creative" than "Chuckles" later version and quite risque for 1953. Dave Bartholomews My Ding-a-Ling Lyrics I have a little girl, her name is Sing She likes to play with my ding-a-ling My ding-a-ling is the cutest thing When Sing plays with my ding-a-ling My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling Oh my, its the greatest thing My ding-a-ling is the greatest thing When Sing plays with my ding-a-ling When you are young and you are on the go Your ding-a-ling wont ever get sore But when you are old and you lost your sting You dont need the doggone thing My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling Oh my, its the greatest thing My ding-a-ling is the cutest thing When Sing plays with my ding-a-ling Theres a little girl, she lives next door I like to play with her Yo-Yo She likes to play with my Yo-Yo string But she will not play with my ding-a-ling My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling Oh my, its the cutest thing My ding-a ling is the cutest thing When Sing plays with my Ding-a-Ling Shouldn't the BBC be banning older numbers like "I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China all to myself alone" by Bing Crosy - presumably Bing someone to sing duets with - the BBC has been playing it for 50 years. or a few months ago the BBC had a jazz program recalling the forties and there was a marvellous video clip of a white suited Cab Calloway singing these lyrics: Cab Calloway - Reefer Man lyrics "Man whats the matter with that cat there?" "must be full of reefer" "full of reefer?!" "yea man" "you mean that cats high?!" "sailing" "sailing" "sailing lightly" "get away from here Man is that the reefer man?" "thats the reefer man" "I belive hes losing his mind" "I think hes lost his mind!" Oh have you ever met that funny reefer man reefer man have you ever met that funny reefer man reefer man If he said he swam to china, and he sell you south carolina then you know your talkn to that reefer man Have you ever met funny reefer man reefer man Have you ever met funny reefer man reefer man If he said he walks the ocean, any time he takes the notion then you know your talkn to reefer man. Have you ever met this funny reefer man reefer man oh baby baby baby reefer man reefer man If he trades you dimes for nickles and calls watermellons pickles then you know your talkn to that reefer man Have you ever met funny reefer man reefer man Have you ever met funny reefer man reefer man If he takes a sudden mania he'll want to give you pennsylvaina oh you know your talking to the reefer man Have you ever met funny reefer man reefer man Have you ever met funny reefer man reefer man If he said one sweet is funny because he wont sell me atlantic then you know your talkin to that reefer man Check it out here: YouTube - Cab Calloway - Reefer Man High Quality

Yes - I just found your message - Yahoo thought you were Spam! I have retrieved the message and will reply directly later tonight. I have some DVD's for you. Graham

Before going to see Bill Wymans Rhythm Kings at the Music Hall on Sunday I read the review of the previous nights show. Unfortunately The Glasgow Herald newspapers reviewer felt short changed and said that the band played so far within their capabilities as to be rendered virtually invisible. (see Herald review at the foot of this post) Fortunately the almost sell-out audience at Aberdeen did not agree with that reviewer as Bill and his superstar band were greeted with rapturous applause at the end of each number and had the crowd stomping for more even after a long show and two encores. And what a band: Bill on Bass playing faultlessly while holding his guitar in the almost vertical style he first made famous more than 40 years ago. Albert Lee demonstrated not only his virtuosity on guitar but he also proved to be no slouch at vocals or even at playing some keyboard boogie-woogie. The two sax players Nick Payn and Frank Mead deserve a special mention for outstanding work during the entire show especially when Nick really honked when he switched to a baritone sax. It is a long time Geraint Watkins played piano on a Carl Perkins session but he was in good form last night especially when the band played Amos Millburns 1949 hit Chicken Shack Boogie. Dennis Locorriere, the former vocalist with Dr Hook, proved a hit with the audience, his days of singing When Your In Love With A beautiful Woman and Sylvias Mother night after night were forgotten as he seemed to be really enjoying himself doing even older numbers like the Harlem Shuffle and a very soulful Louisiana 1927. He leapt about the stage quite a bit too and sometimes went off stage, presumably for a little refreshment, only to return and leap even higher. Terry Taylor the co-founder of the Rhythm Kings, was outstanding on vocals and guitar when he surprised the crowd by fairly Cliff Galloping through Gene Vincents Race With The Devil. Femme vocalist Beverly Skeete proved her versatility by effortlessly changing from Oscar Wills Flatfoot Sam to a bluesy version of Screamin Jay Hawkins I Put A Spell on You. Above everything the show was entertaining and well rehearsed. There were some funny moments when Geraint came to centre stage to play accordion on a Cajun number but roused the crowd with a few Jimmy Shand like riffs before going into Clifton CheniersAll Night Long which had the vocals being handled by Bill himself. The absolute best for me was Albert Lees playing on Jimmy Rodgers 1930 hit Muleskinner Blues and he showed amazing dexterity on the final number The Burnette Trios Tear It Up. I havent heard Albert play quite so well since I was at an Advision Studio session he played on in 1972 but that is another story check it at this link: Jerry Lee Lewis at Advison Studios for London Sessions - pictures in Kyle Esplin's rock n'roll scrapbook - Kyle is Scotland's No 1 boogie-woogie singer pianist The Glasgow Herald Review: Star rating: ** It was a little disappointing to feel so sort-changed by a band of the calibre of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. Here was a group of musicians who, had they been allowed to stretch themselves, could have provided an evening to remember. But they played so far within their capabilities as to be rendered virtually invisible. Take Albert King, for example, surely one of the great finger-picking guitarists of all time. The last time I saw them, he had Martin Taylor to play off and the sparks positively flew. Here, he was reduced to playing anonymous rhythm parts for far too many of these songs. The material didn't help. We were in Jools Holland territory here. Safe R&B, with nothing too challenging, everything neatly packaged into three minutes and all the passion of a Las Vegas review. Beverly Skeet is an excellent vocalist, however, who contributed to the few highlights, such as her take on I Put a Spell on You and her duet with Lee on Crying in the Rain. Drummer Graham Broad and Wyman locked together well throughout and shone in the closer, Tear It Up, which had everything the preceding 90 minutes lacked. A pity it came so late. Was anyone else at this show? Anyone agree with the Herald reviewer who I notice doesnt even get Alberts name right.

Thanks for the constructive remarks re Kyle's website. It certainly does need further work! As you say it has had plenty of traffic with 750,000 visitors and the CD's do sell to all over the world but it needs a more professional look. Thanks Graham

Creating a good looking CD and getting everything right for duplication takes a lot of time - and that is after you have created the music! I am pleased that you found the information helpful. The following link should work to Thane Productions - sorry about my dud link in the earlier post. Thane Productions I am going to send you the three PDF files that we used on Kyle's second CD. I will send them in a personal e-mail rather than take up space here. When you print the pages you will all the sizes, folds, colors and other information we used to instruct the print. You can simply delete our artwork but use the templates for the booklet, inlay, cover and the artwork for the CD itself and then you will have the correct format and sizes for the printer. I note that Gemz has a duplicator - so check that out too. I see that Eric Ewen has over 2000 friends on myspace. Here is a promotional idea for the band's CD release: Make a special offer to all your "friends" - every "friend" gets the new CD for 1. If they all order one you will have taken in enough money to order 3,000 copies (cost 1950) - make a 50 profit and still have 1,000 CDs to sell that are costing you nothing. Think about it - the "friends" get a superb deal and you have financed your duplicating costs. keep rockin' Graham

I would recommend either Thanes of Cupar in Fife or Media Sourcing of Shrewsbury. Thanes is the best if you want to deal with someone who is Scottish and very friendly and helpful. David Cunningham is the person to contact and he is very good at creating and liasing with you re the art work for in-lays etc. The cost is about 550 + vat for a thousand in jewel cases. He is absolutely trustworthy and it is quite safe to leave your glass masters with this firm so they can quickly do another run for you. Contact David Cunningham, the Warehouse, North Burnside, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4BH. 01334 657559. Tell him Kyle Esplin's webmaster recommended Thanes. Thane Productions You can see examples of Thanes work on the CD's on this site: Scotland's No 1 boogie-woogie singer pianist entertainer - the great ball of fire himself - its Kyle Esplin! Alternatively if you have the artwork as PDF files and the music is to be all your own compositions and creation the whole thing can be done on-line at the following site CD and DVD replication, duplication, pressing, manufacture and manufacturing - Media Sourcing Ltd A quick look at this site will guide you through the process. Mr Adrian Brand will be helpful if you have any queries. The price will work out much the same as Thanes but more expensive when artwork is required. There are a number of things to consider before committing your cash: Do you want a jewel case or a full colour cardboard sleeve? If you are travelling a lot - it is much easier and far less bulk to have cardboard sleeves. Against that the jewel cases look good and give you the opportunity to have text on the three sides or you can even put a small booklet in the jewel case type. Do you want it cellophane wrapped or not? If you are going to be signing most of them after a show the cellophane wrapping is a pain to take off. Also if you are going to be signing most of them - consider where the signatures will actually go on the sleeve. Alternatively buy the special CD pens and sign on the actual CD. Don't forget to put your website address on the sleeve. Every customer who contacts you can then be e-mailed promotional material for new releases, show dates etc. If you are to be performing material that was composed by somebody else remember it is copyrighted and you will need to have composer and music publisher credits on the track listing. Before anyone will create a CD of copyright material, the disk duplicator will need a licence from the UK's MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society). You can download all the MCPS information and the forms to fill in at this site Application for Music Licence To fill in this form you need to know the composer of the tune and the music publisher. usually this is easy to find but if you need help PM me and I will do my best to trace the details you need. One last word: before commiting your money show the artwork to every member of your family and the dog! I know from personal experience it is very easy to work on a sleeve layout for a long time and not to spot a simple typing error. It will really glare out at you when it is on the CD. It is also important to retain the copyright of the artwork and with some firms you will want the glass master returned to you (you paid for it) then you can take it to another company if you wish for the next run. Much of the above will be familiar to Aberdeen Music members - but I hope this helps you Preemo on your way to fame and fortune. Graham

Mr Cope has a way with hecklers - check this link to YouTube YouTube - Julian cope getting a little upset Graham

The Lemon Tree was a great place. I particularly remember: Dick Dale Link Wray amazing when he got some of the audience to strum his guitar! Rufus Thomas - who I surprised by producing a Sun 78 of his first record "Bear Cat" made in 1953. He had a great entertaining show. I especially liked the bit when he was chatting up a young lady in the audience and then found she was standing next to her boyfriend - then he got them both up on stage and "Married" them with his band playing The Wedding March. Scotty Moore and DJ Fontanta were great. Wonderful to see Scotty playing and no one can beat DJ's drumming on "Hound Dog". Scotty was good too when he came back without DJ. Graham

If you visit Maplin's shop in Aberdeen you will be able to buy any number of small, inexpensive, simple electronic kits. Each kit of parts comes with full assembly instructions. This is as good a way as any to get started in electronics. This is a link to Maplin's kits: Maplin > kit For example the YouTube video mentions a square wave noise generator - a kit for that from Maplin costs just 6.99. The VHS box mentioned in the video is simply the box into which he put the circuit. It is nothing to do with VHS. Have fun! The chances are that the person who will take your money is also a member of this group and can give you further guidance. Graham

Thanks to all three of you for the suggestions. I am trying to find a place where a professional video could be made. This enquiry is for a friend of mine called Kyle Esplin. He is a pianist/singer who plays boogie woogie style. I run a website for him. We want to update a video that he made on a standard camcorder four years ago. Back then he was a teenager performing on a ship. Now he is four years older, playing with more drive than ever, and we want to put his current stage show on video. Finding a suitable venue has been very difficult but I do like the look of Elphinstone Hall and I will check out the other properties mentioned tomorrow. This is a link to a home video of Kyle playing a Ray Charles number - "Mess Around" at his home in Forfar a few weeks ago. YouTube - Kyle Esplin home video playing Mess Around This is a link to the old video from four years ago http://www.kyleesplin.com/9minshowreelh.wmv Again many thanks for the very helpful suggestions. keep rockin' Graham

Can anyone suggest a place in Scotland that could be hired for a high quality video shoot. Must have a grand piano and room for three or four musicians. Graham

OK here is another "smiling picture" - Jerry with Lisa Marie - Elvis's daughter I was amused to see that my original post had the first picture deleted by one of the Forum's moderators. As the picture had already appeared on an LP cover 25 years ago, I did not think it would offend anyone in these modern times. Apparently a thread on the theme "Rules For Being A True Grinder" is OK but a picture of a piano player with a naked lady at his birthday party is deemed to be unsuitable for musicians!!!! It makes me feel like Lenny Bruce, "I'd hate to be responsible for turning musicians on to things they don't even know about". But those of you who feel cheated by the editing can click on the following link and see what Jerry did at his birthday party - in fact all he did was play piano nonstop for eight hours. Click above the NUDITY WARNING - you have been warned. *link removed*

*image deleted* I've known Jerry Lee Lewis for more than 45 years. He is still the greatest of them all! The pictures with the young ladies were taken at one of Jerry's wilder birthday parties and were taken in Memphis a long, long time ago. These days we are both much older as can be seen from this recent picture of us taken at Amsterdam airport keep rockin' Graham

anon. / none : A man's a man for a' that Dick Gaughan's Website - Songs - Notation - A Man's A Man For Aa That A Man?s a Man For a? That

Here are a couple of links that will help: the first is the New York Times newspaper - the "what's On" information is updated daily here: December calendar of NYC events The link below is to the world famous Appollo Theatre where James Brown made his last stage appearance - in his coffin. THE APOLLO THEATER FOUNDATION, INC. -- HISTORIC TOURS Better still if you are a musician go to the morning auditions for the weekly Wednesday "Talent Night". At the audition you have 90 seconds to impress and get booked and paid to appear on Wednesday evening. James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Jackie Wilson, Michael Jackson and hundreds of others all apeared on the Apollo's "Talent Night" shows before they became famous. Warning! The "Talent Night" audience is very perceptive, appreciative and at times very noisy. Wednesday night at the Apollo is quite an event and the daily tours of this magnificent theatre are mainly conducted by retired performers who tell wonderful stories about the Apollo's history. Before the show enjoy the Rib's at Miss Maude's SpoonBread Too and you will probably meet some of the musicians who will entertain you at the show. Harlem is less than 10 minutes on the train from Grand Central Station (well worth a visit itself). There are trains every few minutes. MTA Home Page for more information harlem is safe for "honkies" these days but it was more fun going there in the sixties. Wrap up well as it will be very cold. Graham

Thanks for selling me the Shure. It is a great microphone. thanks for a good deal. Highly recommended seller as they say on e-Bay! Graham

I would like to buy the Shure if it is still unsold. PM me your phone number and I will arrange to collect it.